Intelligent catheter

ABSTRACT

A system includes a microprocessor executable verification module in a base unit and a microprocessor readable identifier of an endovascular device in a memory of the endovascular device. The microprocessor executable verification module, based on the identifier, at least one of configures the endovascular device for use and determines whether the endovascular device can be enabled for use.

FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to endovascular devices and particularly to monitoring the use of catheters.

BACKGROUND

Catheters are medical devices that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel to treat diseases or perform a surgical procedure. Catheterization, for example, is performed in cardiovascular, urological, gastrointestinal, neurovascular, and ophthalmic applications. Catheters can allow drainage, administration of fluids or gases, access by surgical instruments, and perform wide variety of other tasks depending on the type of catheter. Catheters can, for instance, include energy emitting devices, such as laser and other radiation emitters, to ablate or cauterize tissue, particularly in coronary catheterization and lead removal. In most uses, catheter is a thin, flexible tube (“soft” catheter) though catheters are available in varying levels of stiffness depending on the application.

In energized catheters, such as laser catheters, it can be important to identify the catheter to an energizing base unit, such as an excimer laser system, for purposes of selecting appropriate specifications, requirements, and other operating information (such as active area, maximum and minimum allowable fluence, and repetition rate (e.g., lasing on/off time), and lasing train time) required for catheter energization. One method of identifying the catheter to the energizing base unit is to use a sequence of pins mounted to a proximal coupler of the catheter. The pin arrangement or sequence actuates switches in the catheter's coupler to generate a signal, which is forwarded to the microcontroller of the energizing base unit. Using a lookup table and the signal, the microcontroller can identify the type and/or model of the catheter and therefore the appropriate catheter specifications, requirements, and other operating information. Each type and/or model of catheter has a unique pin sequence to actuate different switches for generating different signals.

The arrangement can create problems.

First, the operating information is typically contained in firmware. When new catheters are introduced that do not correspond to the operating information already programmed in firmware, a new microcontroller must be installed containing updated code along with the operating information to operate the catheter. This can require expensive and time-consuming base unit upgrades.

Second, many catheters are disposable devices for patient health and safety. The arrangement enables unscrupulous health care providers to reuse catheters for different patients, thereby increasing the risk of infection and disease transmission

Third, one catheter manufacturer can duplicate the pin sequence of a different catheter manufacturer and thereby use the other catheter manufacturer's base unit. This situation is unsafe. The catheter manufacturer duplicating the pin sequence does not know the operating information in the base unit's firmware, thereby potentially causing the duplicated catheter to be operated using improper and unsafe operating information.

SUMMARY

These and other needs are addressed by the various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations of the present disclosure. The disclosure is directed generally to an endovascular device monitoring and/or control system.

A method, according to the disclosure, can include the steps of:

(a) receiving, by a microprocessor executable verification module in a base unit configured to couple to an endovascular device, an identifier of the endovascular device from a memory of the endovascular device; and

(b) based on the identifier, one or more of configuring, by the verification module, the endovascular device for use and determining, by the verification module, whether the endovascular device can be enabled for use.

A system, according to the disclosure, can include:

(a) a microprocessor executable verification module in a base unit configured to couple to an endovascular device and

(b) a microprocessor readable identifier of the endovascular device in a memory of the endovascular device.

The base unit couples to the endovascular device, and the microprocessor executable verification module, based on the identifier, one or more of configures the endovascular device for use and/or determines whether the endovascular device can be enabled for use.

The identifier can be provided to the verification module wirelessly and/or by a wired connection. For example, the identifier can be provided wirelessly and be unrelated to a configuration of a connector of the catheter to a coupler of the base unit.

In accordance with this disclosure, a tangible and non-transient computer readable medium in a base unit, configured to couple to an endovascular device, can include microprocessor readable and executable instructions that, when executed, access the identifier of the endovascular device and, based on the identifier, can one or more of configure the endovascular device for use and/or determine whether the endovascular device can be enabled for use.

When the verification module, based on the identifier, configures the endovascular device for use, the verification module can use the identifier to determine an appropriate set of operating information for the endovascular device.

The operating information can be stored in the memory of the endovascular device.

The endovascular device can be a laser catheter. In that event, the operating information can include one or more of a physical dimension of the catheter, an active area, a maximum allowable fluence, a minimum allowable fluence, a repetition rate, and a lasing train time.

The verification module can use the identifier to determine whether the endovascular device can be enabled for use and, when the identifier cannot be enabled for use, disable, block, or otherwise prohibit the base unit from energizing the catheter.

The identifier can be unique the corresponding endovascular device.

The identifier can be common to a first plurality of endovascular devices but different than an identifier associated with a second plurality of endovascular devices.

The endovascular device can include in memory not only the identifier but also one or more of a use indicator, set of use restrictions, patient information, and operating information.

The memory of the endovascular device can be configured as a radio frequency identification tag, and the base unit can further include a radio frequency identification tag reader.

The present disclosure can provide a number of advantages depending on the particular aspect, embodiment, and/or configuration. The operating information can be contained not in base unit firmware but in readable and/or writable memory of the endovascular device itself. This can simplify tremendously the introduction and/or upgrade of endovascular devices. No area table can be required in software because that (and other) information is contained in the endovascular device's labeling. Second, the identifier can prevent effectively reuse of endovascular devices among multiple patients, making the devices truly disposable. For example, the identifier, such as a serial or model number, can be maintained in a non-volatile memory location and compared by the verification module to the identifier of newly inserted devices. When the same identifier is read a second time, the base unit may not allow endovascular device energization. This can provide substantial benefits for patient health and safety. Unscrupulous health care providers can no longer reuse catheters for different patients. Finally, the identifier can prevent one manufacturer from providing off-specification endovascular devices for a different manufacturer's base unit.

These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure.

The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be used interchangeably.

The term “automatic” and variations thereof, as used herein, refers to any process or operation done without material human input when the process or operation is performed. However, a process or operation can be automatic, even though performance of the process or operation uses material or immaterial human input, if the input is received before performance of the process or operation. Human input is deemed to be material if such input influences how the process or operation will be performed. Human input that consents to the performance of the process or operation is not deemed to be “material”.

A “catheter” is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, lumen, or vessel. In most uses, a catheter is a thin, flexible tube (“soft” catheter), though in some uses, it is a larger, solid (“hard”) catheter.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any storage and/or transmission medium that participate in providing instructions to a processor for execution. Such a medium is commonly tangible and non-transient and can take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media and includes without limitation random access memory (“RAM”), read only memory (“ROM”), and the like. Non-volatile media includes, for example, NVRAM, or magnetic or optical disks. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk (including without limitation a Bernoulli cartridge, ZIP drive, and JAZ drive), a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape or cassettes, or any other magnetic medium, magneto-optical medium, a digital video disk (such as CD-ROM), any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, a solid state medium like a memory card, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read. A digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. When the computer-readable media is configured as a database, it is to be understood that the database may be any type of database, such as relational, hierarchical, object-oriented, and/or the like. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include a tangible storage medium or distribution medium and prior art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations of the present disclosure are stored. Computer-readable storage medium commonly excludes transient storage media, particularly electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, optical, magneto-optical signals.

“Coronary catheterization” is a generally minimally invasive procedure to access the coronary circulation and/or blood filled chambers of the heart using a catheter. It is performed for both diagnostic and interventional (treatment) purposes.

A “coupler” or “fiber optic coupler” refers to the optical fiber device with one or more input fibers and one or several output fibers. Fiber couplers are commonly special optical fiber devices with one or more input fibers for distributing optical signals into two or more output fibers. Optical energy is passively split into multiple output signals (fibers), each containing light with properties identical to the original except for reduced amplitude. Fiber couplers have input and output configurations defined as M×N. M is the number of input ports (one or more). N is the number of output ports and is always equal to or greater than M. Fibers can be thermally tapered and fused so that their cores come into intimate contact. This can also be done with polarization-maintaining fibers, leading to polarization-maintaining couplers (PM couplers) or splitters. Some couplers use side-polished fibers, providing access to the fiber core. Couplers can also be made from bulk optics, for example in the form of microlenses and beam splitters, which can be coupled to fibers (“fiber pig-tailed”).

The terms “determine”, “calculate” and “compute,” and variations thereof, as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any type of methodology, process, mathematical operation or technique.

“Electromagnetic radiation” or “EM radiation” or “EMR” is a form of energy emitted and absorbed by charged particles which exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space. EMR has both electric and magnetic field components, which stand in a fixed ratio of intensity to each other, and which oscillate in phase perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the direction of energy and wave propagation. The electromagnetic spectrum, in order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength, consists of radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and gamma rays.

A “lead” is a conductive structure, typically an electrically insulated coiled wire. The electrically conductive material can be any conductive material, with metals and intermetallic alloys common. The outer sheath of insulative material is biocompatible and biostable (e.g., non-dissolving in the body) and generally includes organic materials such as polyurethane and polyimide. Lead types include, by way of non-limiting example, epicardial and endocardial leads. Leads are commonly implanted into a body percutaneously or surgically.

The term “means” as used herein shall be given its broadest possible interpretation in accordance with 35 U.S.C., Section 112, Paragraph 6. Accordingly, a claim incorporating the term “means” shall cover all structures, materials, or acts set forth herein, and all of the equivalents thereof. Further, the structures, materials or acts and the equivalents thereof shall include all those described in the summary of the invention, brief description of the drawings, detailed description, abstract, and claims themselves.

The term “module” as used herein refers to any known or later developed hardware, software, firmware, artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, or combination of hardware and software that is capable of performing the functionality associated with that element. Also, while the disclosure is presented in terms of exemplary embodiments, it should be appreciated that individual aspects of the disclosure can be separately claimed.

“Radio-Frequency IDentification” (RFID) refers to the use of a wireless non-contact system that uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data from a tag attached to an object, for the purposes of automatic identification and/or tracking. Some tags require no battery and are powered and read at short ranges via magnetic fields (electromagnetic induction) (known as passive RFID tags). Others use a local power source and emit radio waves (electromagnetic radiation at radio frequencies) (known as active RFID tags). The tag contains electronically stored information which may be read from up to several meters away. Unlike a bar code, the tag does not need to be within line of sight of the reader and may be embedded in the tracked object.

A “surgical implant” is a medical device manufactured to replace a missing biological structure, support, stimulate, or treat a damaged biological structure, or enhance, stimulate, or treat an existing biological structure. Medical implants are man-made devices, in contrast to a transplant, which is a transplanted biomedical tissue. In some cases implants contain electronics, including, without limitation, artificial pacemaker, defibrillator, electrodes, and cochlear implants. Some implants are bioactive, including, without limitation, subcutaneous drug delivery devices in the form of implantable pills or drug-eluting stents.

The preceding is a simplified summary of the disclosure to provide an understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the disclosure and its various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations. It is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure but to present selected concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations of the disclosure are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a catheter connected to an energizing base unit;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts an identification module according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 depicts a mode of operating of the identification module and verification module;

FIG. 5 depicts a mode of operating of the identification module and verification module;

FIG. 6 depicts logic for the verification module according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 depicts logic for the verification module according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 8 depicts an identification module according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Endovascular device usage is monitored and/or controlled by an endovascular device verification module. While the endovascular device verification module is discussed with specific reference to energized catheters, it is to be understood that it can apply equally to other, typically powered or energized, endovascular devices, such as lead removal or extraction sheaths, needles, surgical instruments, snares, and the like. The endovascular device verification module can be used for any type of catheter, whether or not energized, including without limitation laser ablation, cauterization, and lead removal catheter systems.

FIG. 1 depicts an energized catheter 100 coupled, at its proximal end, to an energizing base unit 104 (such as an excimer laser) via a coupler 108. A distal end 112 of the catheter 100 is used for endovascular procedures, such as lead removal, coronary catheterization and other applications requiring tissue ablation, separation, and/or removal. The energizing base unit 104 powers the energized catheter 100.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of box 116 of FIG. 1. The proximal end of the catheter 100 includes an identification module 200 in wireless and/or wireline communication via link 204 with a reader 204 positioned in the coupler 108. A verification module 208 in the base unit 104 is in wireless or wired or wireline communication with a system clock 216 and memory 220 and, via link 212, with the reader 204.

With reference to FIG. 8, the identification module 200 comprises a memory 800, microprocessor 824, receiver, transmitter or transceiver 828, and, optionally, power infrastructure 832. The power infrastructure 832 can be an on board power supply or electrical components, such as an inductor, able to receive, by inductive coupling, electromagnetic energy to power the identification module 200.

The identification module 200 includes at least an identifier either unique to a single catheter (regardless of model number) (such that catheters of a common model number have different unique identifiers) or unique to a set of multiple catheters (having plural model numbers) (such that catheters of a common model number have common substantially unique identifiers). The use of an identifier unique to a single catheter (with each catheter having a unique serial number) can enable tracking of the catheter for statistical and control purposes. As an example of the latter configuration, catheters of a common model number would have a common identifier that is different from an identifier used for catheters of a different model number. The use of an identifier unique to a set of multiple catheters, while not allowing tracking, can facilitate and automate catheter set up and enable use of the correct operating parameters during catheter operation.

With reference to FIG. 8, the identification module 200 can include, in memory 800, not only identifier 804 but also one or more of a use indicator 808, set of use restrictions 812, patient information 816, and operating information 820. One or more of these items may also be included in the memory 220 of the base unit 104.

The use indicator 808 can take many different forms but generally indicates whether the catheter is eligible for use in a current procedure. In one configuration, each use indicator describes one or more historic event(s). As a first example, a catheter may be reused only for a selected patient but not for other patients. In that example, the use indicator 808 is a counter that defines a current number of uses for the identified patient. As a second example, the length of time that a catheter can be used is limited, and the use indicator 808 defines a current elapsed time period of use of the catheter. By way of illustration, the same catheter may be used on the same patient for a prolonged period as part of the same medical procedure. This usage may be involve repeated removal and reinsertion cycles. The use limitation could enable usage of the catheter for a limited period of time, such as 24 hours, regardless of the number of removal and reinsertion cycles. As a third example, the catheter is to be used in only one procedure, and the use indicator 808 is a bit that indicates whether the catheter has been used in a completed procedure. When the catheter has been used in a completed procedure the bit is set or unset, with the opposite bit setting indicating that the catheter has not yet been used in a completed procedure. As a further example, the use indicator 808 can contain detailed information about the usage history of the catheter, such as one or more start and stop timestamps for each energization cycle of the catheter, a description of how the catheter had been used, timing information describing how long the catheter had been used, and other relevant usage information which can be acted upon during subsequent reuse.

The set of use restrictions 812 define a set of restrictions on use imposed, by the manufacturer and/or health care provider, on the catheter. As examples, a use restriction can stipulate that the corresponding catheter can be used only for a certain type of procedure, that the catheter can be used only for a specified period or interval of time, that the catheter may not be used on more than one patient, and/or that the catheter can be used for a certain number of completed procedures for a selected patient. The use indicator 808 is updated either to describe instances of prior permissible use of the catheter and/or to indicate exhaustion of a use restriction and therefore ineligibility for further use.

Patient information 816 includes, for a selected patient currently being catheterized, the patient's name, age, weight, medical condition, medical procedure in which the catheter is being used, treating physician, health care provider, date(s) of catheter use, and the like.

The operating information 820 includes operating specifications, requirements, limitations, and other operating information for the corresponding catheter. Examples of operating information include physical dimensions of the catheter, active area, maximum and minimum allowable fluence, and repetition rate (e.g., lasing on/off time), lasing train time, and other attributes of the catheter.

The identification module 200 and memory 220 can be any computer readable medium, such as Programmable Read-Only Memory (“PROM”), Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory or (“EPROM”), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory or (“EEPROM”), and flash memory and a processor (not shown).

The verification module 208 is microprocessor executable logic that determines whether use restrictions have been violated and updates data structures in the memory 220 and/or verification module 200 accordingly.

The reader 204 can be any device for accessing information in the identification module 200 and providing information update requests to the identification module 200 to update the use counter and other locally stored information.

In one application, the identification module 200 is configured as an active or passive RFID tag, and the reader 204 as an active or powered RFID reader. FIG. 3 depicts a design of a passive or active RFID tag suitable for use as the identification module 200. The identification module 200 is mounted on an RF adsorption material 308, which is in turn mounted on an interior or exterior surface of the catheter 100, with a proximal end of the catheter in proximity to the coupler 108 being preferred. Examples of RF and/or electromagnetic adsorption materials include organic polymeric materials (such as low density polyurethane impregnated with a dielectric lossy solution), and reticulated and dielectric foam absorbers. When the identification module 200 is mounted on an interior of the catheter, a EMR transparent and/or transmissive window may be positioned on the outer surface of the catheter over the identification module 200 to enable it to receive and transmit EMR signals wirelessly to the reader 204. The window generally has differing signal (EMR) transmission properties than the surrounding or adjacent catheter surface.

The operational modes of the identification module 200 and reader 204 will now be discussed with reference to FIGS. 4-5.

Referring to FIG. 4, the identification module 200 can be configured as a passive RFID tag and the reader 204 as an active or powered RFID reader. As will be appreciated, passive RFID tags vary in how they communicate data to RFID readers and how they receive power from the RFID reader's inductive or electromagnetic field. This is commonly performed via two basic methods.

One method is known as load modulation and inductive coupling in the near field. In this method (shown in FIG. 4), the RFID reader 204 provides, by coupling infrastructure 404, a short-range alternating current magnetic field 400 that the passive RFID tag uses for both power and as a communication medium. Through a technique known as inductive (or near-field) coupling, the magnetic field 400 induces a voltage in the power infrastructure 832 (which is configured as an antenna coil) of the RFID tag 200, which in turn powers the tag. Each time the tag draws energy from the RFID reader's magnetic field, the RFID reader 204 itself can detect a corresponding voltage drop across its antenna leads. Capitalizing on this phenomenon, the tag 200 can communicate binary information to the reader 204 by switching ON and OFF a load resistor to perform load modulation. When the tag 200 performs load modulation, the RFID reader 204 detects this action as amplitude modulation of the signal voltage at the reader's antenna. Load modulation and inductive coupling can be found among passive RFID tags using frequencies from about 125 to 135 kHz and 13.56 MHz. Limitations that exist with regard to the use of such low frequencies include the necessity to use larger antennas, low data rate and bandwidth and a rather dramatic decay in the strength of the electromagnetic field (1/r⁶), where r represents the distance between a low frequency interrogator and a passive RFID tag.

The other method is known as backscatter modulation and electromagnetic coupling in the far field. In this method (shown in FIG. 5), the RFID reader 204, by antenna 508, provides a medium-range electromagnetic field 500 that the passive RFID tag 200 uses for both power and a communication medium. Via a technique known as electromagnetic (or far-field) coupling, the passive RFID tag 200 draws energy from the electromagnetic field of the RFID reader 204. However, the energy contained in the incoming electromagnetic field is partially reflected back to the RFID reader 204 by the passive tag antenna 512. The precise characteristics of this reflection 504 depend on the load (resistance) connected to the antenna 512. The tag 200 varies the size of the load that is placed in parallel with the antenna 512 to apply amplitude modulation to the reflected electromagnetic waves, thereby enabling it to communicate information payloads back to the RFID reader 204 via backscatter modulation. Tags 200 using backscatter modulation and electromagnetic coupling typically provide longer range than inductively coupled tags and can be found most commonly among passive RFID tags operating at 868 MHz and higher frequencies. Far field coupled tags typically provide significantly longer range than inductively coupled tags, principally due to the much slower rate of attenuation (1/r2) associated with the electromagnetic far-field. Antennas used for tags employing far field coupling are typically smaller than their inductively coupled counterparts.

The identification module 200 can be configured as a semi-passive RFID tag and the reader 204 as an active or powered RFID reader. Semi-passive RFID tags can overcome two disadvantages of passive RFID tag designs, namely the lack of a continuous source of power for onboard telemetry and sensor asset monitoring circuits and range limitations. Semi-passive tags differ from passive tags in that they use an onboard battery as a power source to power communication and ancillary support circuits, such as temperature and shock monitoring. Although semi-passive tags employ an onboard power source, semi-passive RFID tags do not use the power source to directly generate RF electromagnetic energy. Rather, these tags typically make use of backscatter modulation and reflect electromagnetic energy from the RFID reader to generate a tag response similar to that of standard passive tags. The onboard battery is used only to provide power for telemetry and backscatter enabling circuits on the tag, not to generate RF energy directly.

The identification module 200 can be configured as an active RFID tag and the reader 204 as an active or powered RFID reader.

In some applications, the identifier is not contained in an identification module 200. In these applications, other approaches can be used to provide the identifier to the reader 204. By way of example, the identifier can be configured to reflect light in a detectable and consistent manner. The identifier typically has an optical property, such as reflectance (or reflectivity), absorbance (or absorption), and the like, different from that of the adjacent areas of the catheter body. The reader 204 is configured as a light source emits modulated or unmodulated light onto the catheter in proximity to the identifier. The reader 204 further includes an optical detector, such as an array of photoelectric devices, that capture light reflected by the identifier. The detector dissects the reflected light into its various spectra. The differing optical properties of the light reflected by the identifier when compared with the adjacent or surrounding catheter body are translated into an electric signal, which is output to the microprocessor executable verification module 208. An example of this type of identification module is a bar code representing the identifier. By way of further example, the identifier can be magnetic or have a magnetic property different from that of the adjacent or surrounding catheter body, with the magnetic elements being configured to represent the identifier. The reader 204 can be a magnetic field sensor, such as a rotating coil, Hall effect magnetometer, NMR magnetometer, SQUID magnetometer, or fluxgate magnetometer that can measure variations in magnetic field strength along a length of the catheter body and thereby read the identifier. The measured magnetic field variations when compared with the adjacent and/or surrounding catheter body are translated into an electric signal, which is output to the verification module 208. In yet another example, the identifier can have a different ultrasonic transmission property than the adjacent or surrounding catheter body, with the ultrasonic elements being configured to represent the identifier. The reader 204 is configured as an ultrasound transducer that acts both as the ultrasonic emitter and detector to detect reflected or transmitted ultrasonic energy and thereby read the identifier. An electrical signal is generated when the reader 204 reads the identifier, which signal is output to the verification module 208. In yet another example, the identifier includes a radiopaque material, such as gold or other metal, while the adjacent or surrounding catheter body includes a radiolucent material, or vice versa, such that the identifier has a different imaging property than the adjacent or surrounding catheter body, with the radiopaque or radiolucent elements, as the case may be, being configured to represent the identifier. The reader 204 emits one or more wavelengths of radiation (such as x-rays). An electrical signal is generated when the identifier passes the reader, which signal is output to the verification module 208. In a final example, the identifier has electrically conductive or have an electrical conductivity or resistivity different from that of the adjacent or surrounding catheter body, with the electrically conductive or conductive or resistive elements, as the case may be, being configured to represent the identifier. The reader 204 is configured to sense an electrical parameter, such as voltage, current, resistance, or ambient electric field to read the identifier. The reader 204, for example, can be a voltmeter, ammeter, magnetoresistive field sensor, Hall Effect current sensor transducer, potentiometer, oscilloscope, LCR meter, and the like. An electrical signal is generated when the identifier is read by the reader 204, which signal is output to the verification module 208.

An operation of the verification module 208 will now be discussed with reference to FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 6, the logic initiates, in step 600, when the verification module 208 detects a stimulus. The stimulus can, for example, be the passage of a selected period of time, realization of a specified clock setting, connection with a catheter, user input, and the like. For example, the stimulus can be the receipt by the verification module 208 of a notification signal from the coupler 108. This signal is generated by the coupler 108 immediately after it is connected to the catheter. Successful acknowledgement of the notification signal by the verification module 208 terminates notification signal transmission by the coupler 108.

In step 604, the reader 204 collects and forwards to the verification module 208 for storage in memory 220, catheter information from the catheter memory. The catheter information is stored in memory 220 with a corresponding timestamp from the system clock 216. The catheter information can include any of the information referenced previously. Upon detection of the stimulus, the reader 204 can periodically poll the identification module 200 for catheter information.

In step 608, the base unit is configured to energize the catheter. This can be done using operating information received from the identification module 200 and/or operating information retrieved from memory 220.

In decision diamond 612, the verification module 208 determines whether enabling the catheter would violate a use restriction. For example, the use indicator may indicate that further usage of the catheter is prohibited. By way of further example, the verification module 208 may need to compare the historic usage information associated with and/or contained within the use indicator against the set of usage restrictions to determine whether further usage of the catheter is permitted. In yet another example, the verification module 208 may compare the identifier with a listing of previously enabled identifiers and, when a match exists, conclude that use of the catheter would violate a use restriction.

When a further usage of the catheter is prohibited or impermissible, the verification module 208, in step 616, disables the base unit and prevents usage of the catheter. A signal may be provided to the operator that the currently coupled catheter may not be used, why the catheter may not be used, and/or that a new catheter must be coupled to the base unit. When a further usage of the catheter is permissible, the verification module 208, in step 620, enables the base unit to energize the catheter and updates data structures in base unit memory associated with historic usage the catheter.

A further operational embodiment is shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the identifier is unique to the corresponding catheter and the identification module includes the information referenced in FIG. 8.

In step 700, the verification module 208 detects a stimulus. The stimulus can be, for example, any of the stimuli referenced above.

In step 704, the identification module 208 retrieves, via the reader 204, the identifier.

In step 708, the verification module 208 retrieves, via the reader 204 and from memory 200, a use indicator 8008, set of use restrictions 812, patient information 816, and operating information 820.

In decision diamond 712, the verification module 208 determines whether enabling the catheter would violate a use restriction. For example, the use indicator may indicate that further usage of the catheter is prohibited. By way of further example, the verification module 208 may need to compare the historic usage information associated with and/or contained within the use indicator against the set of usage restrictions to determine whether further usage of the catheter is permitted.

When a further usage of the catheter is prohibited or impermissible, the verification module 208, in step 716, disables the base unit, thereby preventing usage of the catheter, and determines and initiates an appropriate response. Which response is appropriate may depend on the stimulus. Suitable responses include one or more of an audible alarm, a visual warning (such as a flashing light), an audible or visual message provided to the user on a user interface (not shown) of the base unit, terminating or pausing of an initialization routine to commence catheter energization, and providing information surrounding the incident to the catheter manufacturer and/or healthcare personnel. The information can include not only the information received from the identification module and base unit memories but also a unique identifier of the base unit to enable the manufacturer to identify who is potentially misusing the catheter. This information could be provided to the manufacturer in substantial real time or when the base unit is updated and/or repaired.

When a further usage of the catheter is permissible, the verification module 208, in step 720, enables the base unit to energize the catheter and updates the use indicator and other information in the memory 800 of the identification module 200.

In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letter that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

The exemplary systems and methods of this disclosure have been described in relation to an endovascular device. However, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure, the preceding description omits a number of known structures and devices. This omission is not to be construed as a limitation of the scopes of the claims. Specific details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present disclosure. It should however be appreciated that the present disclosure may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond the specific detail set forth herein.

Furthermore, while the exemplary aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations illustrated herein show the various components of the system collocated, certain components of the system can be located remotely, at distant portions of a distributed network, such as a LAN and/or the Internet, or within a dedicated system. Thus, it should be appreciated, that the components of the system can be combined in to one or more devices, such as a base unit and/or coupler, or collocated on a particular node of a distributed network, such as an analog and/or digital telecommunications network, a packet-switch network, or a circuit-switched network. It will be appreciated from the preceding description, and for reasons of computational efficiency, that the components of the system can be arranged at any location within a distributed network of components without affecting the operation of the system.

Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the various links connecting the elements can be wired or wireless links, or any combination thereof, or any other known or later developed element(s) that is capable of supplying and/or communicating data to and from the connected elements. These wired or wireless links can also be secure links and may be capable of communicating encrypted information. Transmission media used as links, for example, can be any suitable carrier for electrical signals, including coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, and may take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-wave and infra-red data communications.

Also, while the flowcharts have been discussed and illustrated in relation to a particular sequence of events, it should be appreciated that changes, additions, and omissions to this sequence can occur without materially affecting the operation of the disclosed embodiments, configuration, and aspects.

A number of variations and modifications of the disclosure can be used. It would be possible to provide for some features of the disclosure without providing others.

For example, the verification module can indicate that a catheter may no longer be used by erasing all or part of its memory. In that manner, no identifier is present to enable catheter usage.

In another example, information stored on the identification module is accessed directly by the verification module via one or more pins in electrical communication with the identification module. In this configuration, no reader is present.

In another example, the identification module is used in conjunction with the pin signaling and look up tables of the prior art by which the catheter is identified to the base unit. For example, part of the identifier can be provided by pin signaling and the other part of the identifier can be provided by some other transmission medium.

In yet another example, the systems and methods of this disclosure can be implemented in conjunction with a special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit element(s), an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, a hard-wired electronic or logic circuit such as discrete element circuit, a programmable logic device or gate array such as PLD, PLA, FPGA, PAL, special purpose computer, any comparable means, or the like. In general, any device(s) or means capable of implementing the methodology illustrated herein can be used to implement the various aspects of this disclosure. Exemplary hardware that can be used for the disclosed embodiments, configurations and aspects includes computers, handheld devices, telephones (e.g., cellular, Internet enabled, digital, analog, hybrids, and others), and other hardware known in the art. Some of these devices include processors (e.g., a single or multiple microprocessors), memory, nonvolatile storage, input devices, and output devices. Furthermore, alternative software implementations including, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein.

In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be readily implemented in conjunction with software using object or object-oriented software development environments that provide portable source code that can be used on a variety of computer or workstation platforms. Alternatively, the disclosed system may be implemented partially or fully in hardware using standard logic circuits or VLSI design. Whether software or hardware is used to implement the systems in accordance with this disclosure is dependent on the speed and/or efficiency requirements of the system, the particular function, and the particular software or hardware systems or microprocessor or microcomputer systems being utilized.

In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be partially implemented in software that can be stored on a storage medium, executed on programmed general-purpose computer with the cooperation of a controller and memory, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor, or the like. In these instances, the systems and methods of this disclosure can be implemented as program embedded on personal computer such as an applet, JAVA® or CGI script, as a resource residing on a server or computer workstation, as a routine embedded in a dedicated measurement system, system component, or the like. The system can also be implemented by physically incorporating the system and/or method into a software and/or hardware system.

Although the present disclosure describes components and functions implemented in the aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations with reference to particular standards and protocols, the aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations are not limited to such standards and protocols. Other similar standards and protocols not mentioned herein are in existence and are considered to be included in the present disclosure. Moreover, the standards and protocols mentioned herein and other similar standards and protocols not mentioned herein are periodically superseded by faster or more effective equivalents having essentially the same functions. Such replacement standards and protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents included in the present disclosure.

The present disclosure, in various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various aspects, embodiments, configurations embodiments, subcombinations, and/or subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the disclosed aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations after understanding the present disclosure. The present disclosure, in various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and\or reducing cost of implementation.

The foregoing discussion has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the disclosure are grouped together in one or more aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations of the disclosure may be combined in alternate aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claims require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed aspect, embodiment, and/or configuration. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the disclosure.

Moreover, though the description has included description of one or more aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a microprocessor executable verification module in a base unit configured to couple to an endovascular device and from the endovascular device, an identifier of the endovascular device; and based on the identifier, the verification module at least one of configuring the endovascular device for use and determining whether the endovascular device can be enabled for use.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is provided wirelessly by the endovascular device to the verification module, wherein the verification module, based on the identifier, configures the endovascular device for use and wherein the verification module uses the identifier to determine an appropriate set of operating information for the endovascular device.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the operating information is stored in a memory of the endovascular device, wherein the endovascular device is a catheter, wherein the identifier is unrelated to a configuration of a connector of the catheter to a coupler of the base unit, and wherein the operating information comprises one or more of a physical dimension of the catheter, an active area, a maximum allowable fluence, a minimum allowable fluence, a repetition rate, and a lasing train time.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the verification module uses the identifier to determine whether the endovascular device can be enabled for use and, when the identifier cannot be enabled for use, disables the base unit from energizing the catheter.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is contained in a memory of the endovascular device, wherein the memory of the endovascular device is in a radio frequency identification tag, and wherein the base unit further comprises a radio frequency identification tag reader.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is unique to the corresponding endovascular device.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is common to a first plurality of endovascular devices but different than an identifier associated with a second plurality of endovascular devices.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is contained in a memory of the endovascular device and wherein the endovascular device comprises in memory not only the identifier but also one or more of a use indicator, set of use restrictions, patient information, and operating information.
 9. A system, comprising: a microprocessor executable verification module in a base unit configured to couple to an endovascular device; and a microprocessor readable identifier of the endovascular device in a memory of the endovascular device; and wherein the base unit couples to the endovascular device and the microprocessor executable verification module, based on the identifier, at least one of configures the endovascular device for use and determines whether the endovascular device can be enabled for use.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the identifier is provided wirelessly by the endovascular device to the verification module, wherein the verification module, based on the identifier, configures the endovascular device for use and wherein the verification module uses the identifier to determine an appropriate set of operating information for the endovascular device.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operating information is stored in the memory of the endovascular device, wherein the endovascular device is a catheter, wherein the identifier is unrelated to a configuration of a connector of the catheter to a coupler of the base unit, and wherein the operating information comprises one or more of a physical dimension of the catheter, an active area, a maximum allowable fluence, a minimum allowable fluence, a repetition rate, and a lasing train time.
 12. The system of claim 9, wherein the verification module uses the identifier to determine whether the endovascular device can be enabled for use and, when the identifier cannot be enabled for use, disables the base unit from energizing the catheter.
 13. The system of claim 9, wherein the memory of the endovascular device is in a radio frequency identification tag and wherein the base unit further comprises a radio frequency identification tag reader.
 14. The system of claim 9, wherein the identifier is unique to the corresponding endovascular device.
 15. The system of claim 9, wherein the identifier is common to a first plurality of endovascular devices but different than an identifier associated with a second plurality of endovascular devices.
 16. The system of claim 9, wherein the endovascular device comprises in memory not only the identifier but also one or more of a use indicator, set of use restrictions, patient information, and operating information.
 17. A tangible and non-transient computer readable medium in a base unit configured to couple to an endovascular device and comprising microprocessor readable and executable instructions that, when executed: accesses an identifier of the endovascular device, the identifier being located at the endovascular device; and based on the identifier, at least one of configures the endovascular device for use and determines whether the endovascular device can be enabled for use.
 18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the identifier is provided wirelessly by the endovascular device to the verification module, wherein the verification module, based on the identifier, configures the endovascular device for use and wherein the verification module uses the identifier to determine an appropriate set of operating information for the endovascular device.
 19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the identifier is contained in a memory of the endovascular device, wherein the operating information is stored in the memory of the endovascular device, wherein the endovascular device is a catheter, wherein the identifier is unrelated to a configuration of a connector of the catheter to a coupler of the base unit, and wherein the operating information comprises one or more of a physical dimension of the catheter, an active area, a maximum allowable fluence, a minimum allowable fluence, a repetition rate, and a lasing train time.
 20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the verification module uses the identifier to determine whether the endovascular device can be enabled for use and, when the identifier cannot be enabled for use, disables the base unit from energizing the catheter.
 21. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the identifier is contained in a memory of the endovascular device, wherein the memory of the endovascular device is in a radio frequency identification tag, and wherein the base unit further comprises a radio frequency identification tag reader.
 22. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the identifier is unique the corresponding endovascular device.
 23. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the identifier is common to a first plurality of endovascular devices but different than an identifier associated with a second plurality of endovascular devices.
 24. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the identifier is contained in a memory of the endovascular device and wherein the endovascular device comprises in memory not only the identifier but also one or more of a use indicator, set of use restrictions, patient information, and operating information. 